Contents

Career

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1986-present)

Early years (1986-1995)

Iizuka Takayuki joined the New Japan Pro-Wrestling dōjō in 1985/5, few months after graduating from high school.[1][2] He made his debut on 1986/11/2 in Toyoura, Yamaguchi, against Nogami Akira. In 1989/6, Iizuka and Hase Hiroshi went to the Soviet Union to be trained in sambo.[1] In the following month, Iizuka won his first championship, the IWGP Tag Team Championship, with veteran Chōshū Riki. His first taste of gold did not last, as they lost the titles two months later. The title loss did not knock Iizuka down, as he consistently wrestled great matches.

In 1991/5, Iizuka was sent to Europe and wrestled in Germany and Britain.[1] In 1992/5, he wrestled in the United States for World Championship Wrestling once, teaming up with Fujinami Tatsumi, in a losing effort against the Steiner Brothers, Rick & Scott. That same year, Iizuka formed the J.J.JACKS (Japanese Jolly Jacks) with Nogami. J.J.JACKS were a consistent tag team, despite failing to win the IWGP Tag Team titles.

On 2008/3/9, he made a save for Tenzan Hiroyoshi, who was kicked out of the G.B.H (Great Bash Heel) stable. The "friendship team" of Iizuka & Tenzan started feuding with the G.B.H.

As a heel (2008-present)

On 2008/4/27, Iizuka did the unthinkable. During a match between Iizuka & Tenzan and the G.B.H members Makabe Tōgi & Yano Tōru for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Iizuka betrayed Tenzan, turned heel, and joined the G.B.H. He did a complete 180, by changing his look and wrestling style. In 2009/4, Iizuka and most of G.B.H betrayed Makabe and Honma Tomoaki to form CHAOS with Nakamura Shinsuke.